One fake marriage. Two fractured hearts. A second chance they never saw coming.

Annabelle Waters

Running was my only option.

Now I’m hiding out in a small-town orchard—baking pies by day, lying through my teeth by night.

The man I was forced to marry is hunting me down, and the only person who makes me feel safe is the one I never stopped loving.

Derek Fields is everything I shouldn’t want—gruff, grieving, and too good for the mess I’ve made. But when my past comes knocking, he offers me a way out: marry him, trust him… and finally stop running.

It’s supposed to be temporary. Just protection.

But every stolen kiss and whispered promise feels like forever.

Derek Fields

Annabelle was always mine. Even when she left without saying goodbye.

Now she’s back—bruised, guarded, hiding something.

She thinks I don’t notice the fear in her eyes when she thinks I’m not looking.

But I see it. And I’d burn this whole damn town down before I let anyone hurt her again.

I need her to marry me—for real. To keep the land.

But this isn’t just a favor anymore.

Because the truth is, I never stopped loving her.

And I won’t lose her again.

Not when the biggest lie of all could destroy everything we’ve rebuilt.

From the Author: Dirty Mechanic was originally published in 2015 under the title Double Crossed. While the core characters remain the same, the story itself has undergone a complete transformation. While each book can be read as a standalone, the recommended reading order for the full experience is: Dirty Cowboy, Dirty Mechanic, and Dirty Con.